MiLB players assigned, seasons begin this week; Athletes Beyond Bartow update for week ending April
The four current minor league baseball players with local connections have received their 2017 assignments and their teams will begin the new season this week.
Meanwhile, collegiate softball and baseball teams are getting deeper into their respective conference schedules.
This week's update also includes results from track and field and tennis.
PRO BASEBALL
GRANT DeBRUIN (photo right) — Hagerstown Suns - South Atlantic League - Class A - Washington Nationals organization (3B/1B/DH, Alabama-Huntsville, Adairsville HS). . . the most recent update for the Suns roster lists DeBruin as a first baseman. Hagerstown begins the 2017 season Thursday with a four-game series hosting the Asheville Tourists (COL).
DALTON GEEKIE — Rome Braves - South Atlantic League - Class A - Atlanta Braves organization (RHP, Houston, TX, Georgia Highlands College). . . the former Charger finished the 2016 season on the disabled list and is reassigned in 2017 to the Rome Braves’ roster. Rome begins the 2017 campaign on the road at the West Virginia Power (PIT) April 6-9 and at the Kannapolis Intimidators (CWS) April 10-12. Rome’s home opener is April 13 vs. the Charleston RiverDogs (NYY).
SAM HOWARD (photo above) — Hartford Yard Goats - Eastern League - Class AA - Colorado Rockies organization (LHP, Georgia Southern, Cartersville HS). . . Howard was a non-roster invitee this spring for the MLB Rockies’ Spring Training and made a pair of solid appearances with the major league roster. The most recent update shows Howard reassigned to Hartford where he spent the second half of the 2016 season. The Yard Goats begin the 2017 campaign on the road with a four-game series at the Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF) April 6-9 and a trip to the Harrisburg Senators (WSH) April 10-12.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers - California League - Advance Class A - Los Angeles Angels organization (SS, Georgia Tech, Cartersville HS). . . Justus moves up to Advanced Class A and the San Bernardino club after a 2016 season split between Orem, Utah and Burlington, Iowa. He hit .276 with two homers and 32 RBIs in 2016 (26 games, Rookie League, Orem) (42 games, Class A Burlington) Inland Empire begins the 2017 season Thursday at home against the San Jose Giants (SF).
COLLEGE BASEBALL
BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Junior, OF, Cass HS). . . the Saints’ outfielder hit safely in all five games last week going 6-for-16 with a pair of RBIs. Two of his hits were doubles and he scored two runs. His season average stands at .310 in 84 at bats. Limestone was 1-4 last week, falling in non-conference games at Carson-Newman and at home against Lander University. The Saints then won only one of three home conference games with Emmanuel College over the weekend. Limestone (19-17, 8-10 Conference Carolinas) hosts non-conference Wingate Wednesday and travels to Belmont Abbey for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.
CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (Freshman, OF, Cartersville HS). . . made a pinch hit appearance Saturday in a 7-6 loss at Catawba then started in left field in the second game of a doubleheader and was 0-for-2 with a walk in an 11-2 loss. He homered Sunday in one of his three at bats during a 9-6 win over Catawba. He has started ten games and made 17 appearances with a .327 batting average in 49 at bats in 2017. Augusta (14-17, 7-8 Peach Belt Conference) plays a non-conference game at Erskine College Wednesday, followed by a three-game PBC series at USC-Aiken Friday through Sunday.
MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, 1B, Cartersville HS). . . started the final two games of the Spartans’ three-game conference series at East Tennessee State this past weekend and was 3-for-8 with a home run, four RBIs, a walk, and three runs scored. UNCG won 9-7 Saturday and 12-3 Sunday after dropping the series opener on Friday. Goss has a .338 batting average and three homers in 22 starts and 24 game appearances. He has 18 RBIs in 74 at bats with a .989 fielding percentage defensively at first base. UNCG (18-10, 4-2) plays a non-conference game at North Carolina A&T Wednesday night and will host a Southern Conference three-game series with Furman Friday through Sunday.
BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, RHP, Cass HS). . . made a one-inning appearance last Tuesday in a 6-1 loss at Andrew College. He worked a shutout inning allowing one hit and fanned two. Hood is 1-0 with one save in five appearances with a 1.29 ERA in five appearances for the Chargers. GHC (24-13, 4-4) split a four-game series last week with Andrew College. The Chargers continue Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association play this week in a four-game series with South Georgia State, Tuesday at LakePoint and this weekend at SGSCC.
CODY LEDBETTER — Young Harris College (Freshman, LHP, Cass HS). . . made his second appearance of the season last Wednesday in a loss at West Georgia. He gave up three runs on a walk and three hits. The Mountain Lions (12-20, 5-10 Peach Belt Conference) were 2-3 last week and have non-conference games this week at home against Tusculum Tuesday and at Truett-McConnell College Wednesday before hosting PBC foe University of North Georgia Friday through Sunday.
SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Sophomore, 1B, Adairsville HS). . . was 4-for-11 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs, and four walks last week, starting in four of five games for the Cougars. The Mercer University commit has six homers this season with 26 RBIs and a .363 batting average in 30 games. Cleveland State CC won four of five games last week and is now 23-10 overall. The Cougars are 8-7 in the TCCAA with a non-conference DH at Bryan College JV Wednesday and a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday at Volunteer State CC.
JO JO UNDERWOOD — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, C/3B, Cartersville HS). . . started at DH last Tuesday in a 14-3 home, non-conference win over UNC-Asheville. He was 3-for-4 with a home run, a sacrifice fly, three RBIs and scored two runs for the Spartans. He had one plate appearance Friday and entered as a catcher in an 11-0 loss at East Tennessee State. UNCG (18-10, 4-2) plays a non-conference game at North Carolina A&T Wednesday night and will host a Southern Conference three-game series with Furman Friday through Sunday.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Junior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . was 3-for-20 last week with five RBIs, four walks, a sac fly, and three runs scored for the Mountain Lions who went 2-3 for the week. YHC (12-20, 5-10 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Tusculum Tuesday and travels to Truett-McConnell College Wednesday for non-conference games. The Mountain Lions then host 10th-ranked University of North Georgia Friday through Sunday in a three-game Peach Belt Conference series.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
KENNEDY BAILEY -- Union College (KY) (Freshman, C, Cartersville HS). . . saw action last Wednesday with a two-run home run in the second inning of a 13-0 win over Truett-McConnell. She scored two runs and had two RBIs in the game, but went 0-for-5 in the next three games for the Bulldogs. Union (21-22, 9-3) plays a doubleheader at Point University Friday and another doubleheader at Reinhardt University Saturday.
TAYLOR BRASELTON — Reinhardt University (Senior, SS, Woodland HS). . . was only 1-for-7 in a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference wins at Bluefield College (VA) Sunday. The Eagles won 1-0 in 10 innings and 8-0 in five innings. Braselton has a .905 fielding percentage this season at shortstop in 179 chances. She carries a .443 batting average with 19 RBIs in 140 at bats over 38 starts. Reinhardt (29-10-1, 7-1) has six conference games in three doubleheaders this week hosting Bryan College (TN) Tuesday, at Tennessee Wesleyan University Thursday, and back home with Union College (KY) Saturday.
SYDNEY FLOWERS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Woodland HS) . . . was 0-for-1 in a doubleheader Sunday at Bluefield College (VA). She has a .200 batting average in 18 games played and five starts this season. Reinhardt (29-10-1, 7-1) has six conference games in three doubleheaders this week hosting Bryan College (TN) Tuesday, at Tennessee Wesleyan University Thursday, and back home with Union College (KY) Saturday.
SYDNEY HODORFF — LaGrange College (Sophomore, C, Woodland HS). . . went 7-for-20 with a double and five RBIs as the Lady Panthers won four of six games this past week. LaGrange lost a pair at Huntingdon College, but then won twice at Agnes Scott and two more at Wesleyan College. Hodorff has a .239 batting average with one homer and six RBIs in 30 games for the Lady Panthers this season. LaGrange (11-19, 10-12 USA South Athletic Conference) begins conference playoffs with a best-of-three series at Salem College (NC) this Saturday and Sunday.
CASSIDY HOWREN — Reinhardt University (Junior, C, Adairsville HS). . . was 0-for-5, but had a sacrifice hit in a pair of wins at Bluefield College (VA) Sunday. Howren has a .229 batting average with five RBIs in 35 starts and 37 game appearances this season. Reinhardt (29-10-1, 7-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) has six conference games in three doubleheaders this week hosting Bryan College (TN) Tuesday, at Tennessee Wesleyan University Thursday, and back home with Union College (KY) Saturday.
KAILAH RAIN — Embry-Riddle University (Junior, OF, Cartersville HS). . . went 3-for-10 including a triple in a three-game Sunshine State Conference series at Rollins University last Friday and Saturday. The Lady Eagles won two of the three games. Rain has a .263 batting average in 13 games played this season. ERU (20-19, 10-7) hosts Lynn University for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.
TAYLOR WAITS — Brewton-Parker College (Freshman, OF, Adairsville HS). . . was 1-for-6 in a pair of home losses to Martin Methodist (TN) last Friday. The Lady Barons (8-25, 3-11 Southern States Athletic Conference) host doubleheaders with Bethel University (TN) Friday and Blue Mountain College (MS) Saturday.
TAYLOR WEEKS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . went 4-for-7 Sunday in a doubleheader sweep at Bluefield College (VA). Weeks also scored a run and stole a base. She has a .415 batting average for the season with 20 RBIs in 38 starts. Reinhardt (29-10-1, 7-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) has six conference games in three doubleheaders this week hosting Bryan College (TN) Tuesday, at Tennessee Wesleyan University Thursday, and back home with Union College (KY) Saturday.
LAUREN WOMACK — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, SS, Cass HS). . . did not have a hit in six official at bats last week, but finished with three RBIs and a sacrifice as the Chargers split a conference doubleheader in Milledgeville with Georgia Military College and won at Brewton-Parker JV. Through 38 games, Womack has a .277 batting average with 13 RBIs, 19 runs scored, and four stolen bases. She carries an .875 fielding percentage in 104 defensive chances. GHC (31-9, 12-6 GCAA) plays conference doubleheaders Friday at Andrew College and Saturday at Abraham Baldwin College.
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD
AUBREE COLE — Jacksonville State University (Freshman, Distance, Cartersville HS). . . placed ninth in the 1500M run with a time of 5:12.76 last Saturday as JSU hosted and won the eight-team Choccolocco Challenge. The Gamecocks compete this Friday and Saturday at the Alabama A&M Bulldog Invitational in Huntsville.
SPENCER FIELDS (right) — Rhodes College (Sophomore, Distance, Kingston resident, Darlington HS). . . came within seconds of a new school record this past weekend in St. Louis, MO at the Washington University Invitational. His time was 14:56.29. The Lynx host a home meet this Saturday in Memphis.
BLAKE PERRY — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Sprint/Hurdle/Jumps, Cartersville HS). . . finished third in the 100M Hurdles with a time of 15.24 in the finals and was fourth in the Triple Jump with a mark of 36 feet, 5 inches last Saturday as the Gamecocks hosted and won the eight-team Choccolocco Challenge. The Gamecocks compete this weekend at the Alabama A&M Bulldog Invitational in Huntsville.
COLLEGE TENNIS
PEYTON GOLLHOFER — Ball State University (Sophomore, Cartersville resident, Laurel Springs Academy). . . won her line 2 singles match 6-1, 6-2 and paired with Carmen Blanco for a line 2 doubles win as the Lady Cards blanked Bowling Green last Friday, 7-0. She then defeated her Buffalo University opponent 6-3, 6-4 at line 2 and again teammed with Blanco for a doubles win as BSU defeated Buffalo 5-2 Sunday. Gollhofer has a 9-5 singles record this season playing all her matches at either line 1 or 2. She also has a 10-4 doubles mark and has been paired to play at all three lines throughout the season. The Cardinals host Eastern Michigan Friday and play at University of Toledo Sunday.
Did we miss someone from this past week? Please let us know. Use the contact link at the top of this page or send an email to: bartowsportszone@comcast.net. Updates are achieved by searching our existing ABB roster and their respective team's web sites.
